Saint Miki- I follow the rare and arduous routine of drinking, smoking, and watching Rockford files in the months leading up to AND following the Gathering. I have a huge stack of motorcycle tires in the garage that I beat the hell out of once in awhile though...

Folks will think I am kidding but...

Darring Coe- Welcome to the adventure! Last year was my 1st Gathering, it was one of the greatest days of my entire life and I do NOT have 15 years of Arnis training

The intensity, comraderie, and growth from the Gathering was beyond my wildest expectations. I am not sure what might be keeping you from attending, but I can almost guarantee that you will learn more about yourself than you expected. Besides after 15 yrs of Arnis, aren't you curious to put it to work?

generally, what's holding me back is having a mortgage, a wife, and four kids. it's tough to justify a plane ticket and a hotel, but I'm working on it.

I have actually had six in ring reality dog brothers style stickfights but the gathering is the mecca and i'll get there eventually. These fights were in the early 2000s and were part of nhb/mma cards. we did three 2 minute rds. some of the fights were underground out in the middle of field and these were truly anything goes. broke a thumb, almost lost my left eye, it was more fun than a guy should have with a pair of sticks. at the moment, I've got eric taimanglo in colorado springs who is gracious to give me a beating whenever I ask for it. Yeah, I love the stickfighting. I like to refer to it as play time for grown ups.

How does everyone prepare for the gathering? Personally, I've been working more cardio and strength than usual, and trying to put an edge on my ground work... though in reality, that's all coming with taking my normal training to the next level. Do you more seasoned fellas have a specific ritual in the month or two leading up to a gathering?

I'm doing a lot of cardio, partner work, and weighted training. every other day I'm trying to do all of my basics with either dumb bells or aerobic exercise bars (weighted at 6 lbs a piece). I try to be real creative in ways to integrate footwork with striking. For instance, using weighted sticks strike and bounce a swiss fit ball and chase it around for 2 minute rounds. very good cardio/footwork drill. On my off days I'm trying to do just cardio using my regular fight sticks. now if I could just quit eating ice cream, chips, and cookies . .... .

generally, what's holding me back is having a mortgage, a wife, and four kids. it's tough to justify a plane ticket and a hotel, but I'm working on it.

I have actually had six in ring reality dog brothers style stickfights but the gathering is the mecca and i'll get there eventually. These fights were in the early 2000s and were part of nhb/mma cards. we did three 2 minute rds. some of the fights were underground out in the middle of field and these were truly anything goes. broke a thumb, almost lost my left eye, it was more fun than a guy should have with a pair of sticks. at the moment, I've got eric taimanglo in colorado springs who is gracious to give me a beating whenever I ask for it. Yeah, I love the stickfighting. I like to refer to it as play time for grown ups.

hang coolDarrin

Roger that Darrin, I hear ya on the $$. Taimanglo is a beast-- next time you fight him just tell him to quit "checking-in" on FB when he is at the gym, it is depressing...LOL

The NHB stuff is awesome, I would do it in a second- when I was younger, fighting in TJ (Tijuana) for a few bucks was the thing...

one of the reasons I want to go to the gathering is to try various types of footwork structures against different opponents. arnis de mano baston galang miyahara has a rather unique footwork structure and I want to test it against a variety of opponents. Galang Miyahara also operates best at outer ranges of combat (weapons, largo, and some medio) and I want to see how it adapts to other distance structures. Anyway, comments on footwork and distancing are always given lots of thought.

one of the reasons I want to go to the gathering is to try various types of footwork structures against different opponents. arnis de mano baston galang miyahara has a rather unique footwork structure and I want to test it against a variety of opponents. Galang Miyahara also operates best at outer ranges of combat (weapons, largo, and some medio) and I want to see how it adapts to other distance structures. Anyway, comments on footwork and distancing are always given lots of thought.

Darrin Coe

Very cool Darrin...My goal is/was to test my training in the most "alive" situation that I could find...I have also just idolized Crafty and the others since I was like 19. My system (Kara-Ho Kempo) teaches many weapons but not the stick(s), we do teach "club defenses" to defend against a stick armed attacker but they seem ineffective for me at least, having faced skilled arnis/escrima folks. My focus is going to be effective low-line kicks and my iron broom sweep

Good luck with keeping distance at the Gathering, nearly every fight seems to go to the clinch and/or ground.

You have identified here something that in my opinion is very important-- the skill of maintaining striking range.

In DBMA we call this ST. FOOM which is an acronym for Stay The Fornicate Off Of Me.

crafty, that is awesome. my training partner and I were working this just last night. Have been spending a lot of time examining and studying gathering videos, then we work the footwork: solo baston, doble baston, knife, stick and knife. One of the things I expect to learn/work at the gathering is to get my opponent to get into my striking range without striking me. There's wonderfully fun psychology around all of this and you don't really "get it" until you've played "live". Last night I didn't play so good at a couple of points as indicated by the bruise developing on my left ear. Anyway, I'm continuing to try to make "it a go" as far as getting to the gathering.

I'm wondering, is anyone planning on going out there from the Hemet area that might be interested in carpooling? As much as I want to I'm not going to be able to fight this year, got home from the in-laws to find my place had been robbed, but would love to at least be able to watch a few fights.

BTW what kind of crack head steals a fencing mask, some gloves, and a bunch of sticks?

I'm wondering, is anyone planning on going out there from the Hemet area that might be interested in carpooling? As much as I want to I'm not going to be able to fight this year, got home from the in-laws to find my place had been robbed, but would love to at least be able to watch a few fights.

BTW what kind of crack head steals a fencing mask, some gloves, and a bunch of sticks?

ok, that's just plain odd. I would feel a big hole in my chest if I lost my fight equipment. it's just terrible strange.

I'm wondering, is anyone planning on going out there from the Hemet area that might be interested in carpooling? As much as I want to I'm not going to be able to fight this year, got home from the in-laws to find my place had been robbed, but would love to at least be able to watch a few fights.

BTW what kind of crack head steals a fencing mask, some gloves, and a bunch of sticks?

ok, that's just plain odd. I would feel a big hole in my chest if I lost my fight equipment. it's just terrible strange.

Darrin Coe

No joke. They didn't even take my DBMA DVDs to go with it. At least if they had done that it would make sense.

Im in the process of trying to buy my first home, however schedule permitting I'll be there in support- Im thinking Im done fighting.. But I may surprise y'all sometimes. As long as there's med supplies in my bag, I'm there to be of service if desired but most of all to support and defend the strength of the tribe

I'm still working on getting to the gathering. not going to register until I know that I can be there for sure. Still training as if I'll be there. To participate in a gathering will allow me to cross off one of the items on my martial arts bucket list. If I can make it I'll be interested in single stick, double stick, and stick/knife. I'm looking to fight as often as possible and not die or be disabled (mentally or physically). btw, what time do festivities start and about when do they wrap up?

I would like to put out there the fact that Pretty Kitty and I were rather irked at last year's Open Gathering by the number of people who were trying to sneak video of the fights.

In the old days cameras and video cameras were readily distinguishable. Now they are not. We always were fine with people taking fotos, but now we find we must give serious consideration to a no private camera policy, perhaps with a pro photographer there taking pictures for sale later.

I would like to put out there the fact that Pretty Kitty and I were rather irked at last year's Open Gathering by the number of people who were trying to sneak video of the fights.

In the old days cameras and video cameras were readily distinguishable. Now they are not. We always were fine with people taking fotos, but now we find we must give serious consideration to a no private camera policy, perhaps with a pro photographer there taking pictures for sale later.

Crafty Dog

Just got done reading the newsletter and saw this post. Maybe only fighters can take pictures? I'm sure that someone standing in line that has 10 fights before him wouldn't mind taking a few pics for the people fighting? Just a thought. Also, what will be the policy on shoes? I know last year everyone was made to go barefoot because of marking the mats. I wear wrestling shoes, I know wrestling shoes don't mark the mats. I did however see some people wearing chuck taylors.

I think it is a shame that people are trying to sneak in cameras and tape the fights

@C-Yo Dog: How do you want to judge if a new Fighter is taking pictures or filming? On the day of the Gathering Guro Crafty and Pretty Kitty have so much stuff to do, how should they than also check the audience/fighters?A professional photographer is a really good solution. For a couple of bucks everybody can purchase a DVD with all the pictures.

I think it is a shame that people are trying to sneak in cameras and tape the fights

@C-Yo Dog: How do you want to judge if a new Fighter is taking pictures or filming? On the day of the Gathering Guro Crafty and Pretty Kitty have so much stuff to do, how should they than also check the audience/fighters?A professional photographer is a really good solution. For a couple of bucks everybody can purchase a DVD with all the pictures.

@Gong Fu Dog, good point. I was thinking it would really limit who had the cameras if ONLY the fighters on the mat were allowed cameras out. But like you said, you couldn't tell if they're filming or taking pics. Day of fights I know NO fighter will wanna have to be thinking of policing, their mind will be on fighting. I think being able to buy a dvd with pics is a great idea.

If not a pro photographer then maybe any tribe members who will be there, who aren't fighting could be on the mat and if you want pics of your fight, you give your camera to them? If you don't like the quality of their picture taking skills then you can just get in line and talk about it.

Sorry to hear that Dax, glad you will still be there though...Last year I bought some LaCrosse gloves off craigslist for $15- and the padding was soo thick it was hard to get a good grip on the stick- I also broke a finger (punching)anyway soo...

I'm curious for some 'authoritative' feedback on glove wear; I took a shot to the hand wearing the KIL gloves (with a padded stick) on Sunday and earned a major spiral fracture to the 3rd metacarpal - surgery scheduled for tomorrow to get a full recovery in time for the Gathering.

I'd rather not go through this again if possible, so I will be working on keeping my hands closer to the body - but I'm also wondering if I can get guidance on some acceptable lacrosse gloves before shelling out a ton of cash, only to find they can't be used in the Gathering. I earn my living through my fingers, so I'd really like to take acceptable precaution to prevent similar damage...any links or model name/number would be appreciated.

Cheers,dax

Is than an issue, that there are certain kinds of padding or protective gear that isn't allowed at the gathering? I have a pair of STX lacrosse gloves that absolutely do the job of protecting my hands without taking the sting away from a well-placed shot.

Also, I think the idea of having a professional photographer on hand and selling discs with the photos afterward is a great idea. In truth, my experiences with giving cameras to fellow fighters only turns out blurry and poor quality shots, and I would really appreciate the opportunity to bring something like that home after the Gathering! :3

My son played lacrosse for a couple of years so I have a sense of what they are like. My sense is that for sparring many models are wonderful but for a Gathering there are many versions which are a bit too protective for a Gathering but there are some which would be OK. Until I see the gloves I cannot give a definitive answer.

Being a noob myself I will be bringing several pairs of gloves just in case. I have a pair of mylex elite street hockey and stx rival lacrosse gloves that I am hoping will fit the bill (the stx ones are the closest to kil I could find). I do like the idea of a professional photographer on site, if he has a website (or use DBMA site?) he could give out numbers to the fighters and post the pics online for purchase.

I see no one has really commented on the question of accommodations near the Gathering site.

IMHO, the city of Burbank would be the place to stay. Has its own airport with car rentals, decent hotels and motels, its own police force, a mid/upper-mid income population and is only 10 mins from Gokor's.

Van Nuys, where Gokor's is, would NOT be the place to stay.

If anyone needs more specific help with accommodations, PU from the airport (do Burbank, NOT LAX!), or general info, let me know and I'll help you out.